From June 30 to July 2, 2025, the DZL community gathered at the Heidelberg site TLRC for the 13th DZL Annual Meeting. While the summer heat shimmered over the historic university city on the Neckar, the meeting at the Heidelberg Congress Center brought fresh momentum and invigorating impulses to German lung research. It wasn’t just the temperatures that broke records — with around 730 participants and the largest poster session in DZL history, the Annual Meeting set new standards and sent a strong signal for scientific excellence, social responsibility, and a powerful sense of community.
Over three days, the modern Congress Center — with its bright, spacious architecture and excellent infrastructure — served as an inspiring backdrop for intense dialogue and creative exchange.
From the DZL Academy Kickoff to the Largest Poster Session Ever
The Annual Meeting began with the traditional Welcome Reception hosted by the DZL Academy the evening before: a lively and informal start where early-career researchers connected through short scientific talks, quizzes, and extensive networking opportunities.
The first conference day focused on the working groups: in parallel sessions, the disease areas, platforms, and cross-sectional groups presented ongoing projects, discussed key questions, and initiated new collaborations. A particular highlight was the Teaser Sessions – short, impactful previews of selected posters that offered an engaging introduction to the afternoon’s Poster Session. With a total of 466 contributions spread across all three levels of the Congress Center, it was by far the largest in DZL history — a visible sign of the growing energy and research power within the community.
Science as a Mindset: Keynote by Prof. Werner Seeger Calls for Responsibility and International Solidarity
The day’s highlight was the evening event, which opened with a compelling keynote by DZL spokesperson Prof. Werner Seeger. He expressed how moved he was by the intense scientific exchange across all career levels: "This atmosphere of open discussion is a precious asset – and sadly, not a given everywhere in the world."
Prof. Seeger reminded attendees that many colleagues work in countries where the foundations of free and excellent science are increasingly under threat. "Even in the United States – a beacon of academic freedom – we are witnessing restrictions today that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago." Science, he emphasized, is more than a profession – it is an attitude, one that demands truthfulness, integrity, and the courage to take a stand when these core values are at risk. His appeal for responsibility, dialogue, and solidarity resonated strongly with the audience.
Honoring Scientific Excellence: Poster Awards and Publication Award Celebrate Outstanding Contributions
Also part of the evening program was the awarding of the DZL Poster Awards. Each prize, endowed with €500, recognized outstanding scientific poster contributions. A surprise highlight was the live teaser format: the awardees spontaneously pitched their research on stage in a 30-second presentation — a creative and entertaining way to showcase their work. Following the awards, the evening concluded in celebratory fashion with dinner, live music, and dancing.
Recipients of the DZL Poster Awards 2025:
Disease Areas / Platforms
- Asthma and Allergy: Helen S. Charles (CPC-M)
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Efthymios Fousekis-Papakonstantinou (UGMLC)
- Cystic Fibrosis & Bronchiectasis: Lauren Czichon (BREATH)
- Pneumonia and Acute Lung Injury: Abdelrahman Mohamed Ahmed Abdelalim (UGMLC)
- Diffuse Parenchymal Lung Disease: Ashesh Chakraborty (CPC-M)
- Pulmonary Hypertension: Luca Dulz (TLRC)
- Regeneration & Organ Replacement: Julia Rückoldt (BREATH)
- Lung Cancer: Eiman Elwakeel (UGMLC)
- Biobanking & Data Management Platform: Jan Fuge (BREATH)
- Imaging Platform: Noah Heldt (ARCN)
Disease-Spanning Working Groups (DSWG)
- Artificial Intelligence & Digital Tools: Marcus Oswald (CAPNETZ)
- Lung Environment Interaction: Gyde Nissen (ARCN)
- Microbiome-Metagenome: Aleksandra Sarnowicz (ARCN)
- Single Cell Analysis: Ruth Grychtol (BREATH)
Also presented was the €3,000 DZL Academy Publication Award, recognizing outstanding research achievements in the context of the DZL Fellowships:
- 1st Place: Julianne Funk (UGMLC)
- 2nd Place (shared): Ali Khadim (UGMLC) and Lin Yang (CPC-M)
A Vibrant Forum for Science – Beyond Locations and Disciplines
The DZL Annual Meeting 2025 was more than a scientific conference — it was a forum for exchange, inspiration, and collaboration. It was shaped by openness, collegial spirit, and the shared belief that science thrives through free and open dialogue.
With its record-breaking participation, its impressive poster session, and its wealth of content-driven impulses, the meeting set new standards. And once again, it highlighted what defines the DZL community: a commitment to scientific excellence, to societal responsibility — and to a spirit of collaboration that transcends institutions and disciplines.
We thank all contributors, and participants for their dedication and enthusiasm — and we are already looking forward to the DZL Annual Meeting 2026!
Watch a concise video recap featuring highlights from the meeting in Heidelberg here.